He Is the Relief

In “Jesus Christ Is Not Our Burden; He Is Our Relief,” David J. Wunderli states, “Jesus Christ is not the weight; He is the relief.” The message hits home for me as I have felt the relief that comes through the gospel of Jesus Christ. Whether it be through repentance or inspiration, Christ has never been a burden in my life.

Overcoming an addiction has shown me that He is the way to a joyful life. The relief I feel from the burden I was under defies explanation. I am happier after taking on His yoke.

What is the relief he can provide? Let’s take a look at some of the reasons we feel He is a burden and why that isn’t the case.

High Demand/Commitment

The critics of my religion often classify it as either “High Demand” or “High Commitment,” and that causes its members to be unduly burdened. I asked Google Gemini to help me understand what is meant by “High Demand”; here is its answer:

“A high-demand religion (often referred to as a “high-control” group) is an academic and sociological term used to describe a religious organization that exerts a significant, pervasive influence over nearly every facet of its members’ lives.”¹

Gemini produced this definition of “High Commitment”:

“A high-commitment religion is a group that encourages a deep, dedicated, and often rigorous engagement with its faith, yet it remains fundamentally distinct from ‘high-demand’ groups due to the presence of individual agency, external transparency, and the absence of coercive control.”

Using these definitions, critics claim that an undue burden is placed on members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. The time commitments, along with the covenant requirements (e.g., tithing), have always been seen as holding the people down or keeping them from being free.

In Alma 30, one such critic, later labeled as antichrist, put it this way, “I do not teach the foolish traditions of your fathers, and because I do not teach this people to bind themselves down under the foolish ordinances and performances which are laid down by ancient priests, to usurp power and authority over them, to keep them in ignorance, that they may not lift up their heads, but be brought down according to thy words. Ye say that this people is a free people. Behold, I say they are in bondage” (Alma 30: 23-24).

I can understand the thoughts people feel about this. I myself sometimes feel like it is too much to try and live the commandments that God has given to His children. I have asked, “Why do I have to do all this?” and “What benefit am I getting?” It sometimes feels heavy remembering to do everything asked. Between reading scriptures, daily prayer, paying tithing, attending church, doing family history, attending the temple, etcetera, it is daunting.

However, think of Peter and Andrew in the New Testament. This example shows that Christ has always required a high level of commitment. “And [Christ] saith unto them, Follow me, and I will make you fishers of men” (Matthew 4:19). He asked them to give up their lives, their means of livelihood, all that they were doing, to follow Him and be a part of His gospel. They committed to His work and were blessed to do so.

So it is in our day; we have been asked to follow Him. We have been given commandments and covenants that will lead us back to His presence. Why would we not commit to live in that manner? Did He not say, “If ye love me, keep my commandments” (John 14:15)? Why do we resist following Him?

What Keeps Us From Wanting to Follow Him?

I have asked myself numerous times, “Why do I resist keeping the commandments?” I believe each of us has a rebellious side, which I would describe as selfish. It is the want to do things our way and not the way someone else tells us. All of us want to show that we can do things our way. Following the commandments isn’t exempt from that feeling.

In Helaman 12, we read, “O how foolish, and how vain, and how evil, and devilish, and how quick to do iniquity, and how slow to do good, are the children of men; yea, how quick to hearken unto the words of the evil one, and to set their hearts upon the vain things of the world! Yea, how quick to be lifted up in pride; yea, how quick to boast, and do all manner of that which is iniquity; and how slow are they to remember the Lord their God, and to give ear unto his counsels, yea, how slow to walk in wisdom’s paths!”

We see in this verse that man has been given agency to choose, and we tend to choose our own ways. We don’t like being told what to do. Unfortunately, we tend to want to leave Jesus behind.

In my life, I have had moments of rebellion. I chose to participate in things that aren’t in harmony with the gospel. Part of my thinking has been, why should I let someone else tell me how to live? Why can’t I do whatever I want and be happy? Why do I need Jesus in my life?

Is Life Really Better When We Leave Jesus Behind?

In his address, Brother Wunderli shares a story about his son and a picture of Jesus. The son obtained the picture in Primary and carried it with him everywhere. The family went on a hike, and the boy had the picture in his backpack. While on the hike, the boy found some rocks that he liked and wanted to bring back. Brother Wunderli agreed he could bring back the rocks, but the boy had to carry them. With the picture of Jesus and the rocks in the backpack, they started again. Soon, the boy grew tired, and it was obvious that the backpack needed to be lightened.

Brother Wunderli relates, “Now, thinking there might be a lesson to be taught, I lightheartedly suggested that maybe he should remove his picture of Jesus. ‘That should lighten your load,’ I said.

I will never forget the hurt look on his face. It seemed to say, ‘Dad, you really want me to take Jesus out of my pack and leave Him behind?’ And then his look changed to ‘Dad, you’re not as smart as I thought you were.’”

Our loads are never lightened when we leave Jesus behind. He stated as much when he said, “Come unto me, all ye that labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you, and learn of me; for I am meek and lowly in heart: and ye shall find rest unto your souls. For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light” (Matthew 11:28-30).

From my own experience, I know that trying to live without Jesus is NOT easier. When I wasn’t living the gospel, I felt lonely, empty, and not joyful. Yes, there were moments of happiness, pleasure, and satisfaction. However, none of those were lasting. None were sustainable. He is needed.

He Is the Relief

There are many names by which the Savior is recognized. Some of these include Redeemer, Lord, Wonderful, and Counselor. One other is Reliever. He relieves our burdens, our sorrow, our pains in whatever form they manifest. We have examples of this in the Scriptures:

• The woman with the issue of blood
• The woman taken in adultery
• Hannah and the birth of Samuel
• Mother of Moses
• The lame man at the pool of Bethesda

In my own life, He has been my Reliever. The relief from sin. The relief from anxiety. The relief from the feelings of failure. He is always there to help us and relieve us of our burdens.

Conclusion

Jesus Christ is our relief. His gospel is built to help us be the best we can be. It is the way to freedom. It is the way to a life without regret. Does it require commitment on our part? Yes! That commitment leads to a joyful, fulfilling, and happy life. His yoke is easy, and His burden is light! There is no life without Him. If you feel burdened, lonely, or unsatisfied, turn to Him and try out His way.

Footnotes

1. “Faith, Control and Identity—The Impact of a High-Demand Religion | A Conversation with C.A. Larson”, At Last She Said It, Episode 218; “What does it mean when something is a ‘high-demand religion’?“, Reddit